Clever folks at the Disneyland Resort realize that lots of people love Halloween — sometimes even more than Christmas — and so they really blow the season out these days, to lure in people who might otherwise not have a burning desire to visit in what used to be considered the “off-season.”

Visitors to Disneyland take pictures in front of a giant Mickey Jack-o-Lantern on Main Street U.S.A. in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, Sep 7, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The entrance to Disney California Adventure Park during the first day of the Halloween season in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, Sep 7, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Montzeratt Ramirez, 3, stands for a picture with Disney Junior Star Vampirina on the first day of the Halloween season at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, Sep 7, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A real gingerbread house made by the food and beverage team at Disneyland sits in the Haunted Mansion Holiday in New Orleans Square in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, Sep 7, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Cars Land is decked out for the Halloween season at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, Sep 7, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Shelby Powers, left, and her husband, Ryan Powers, pose for a picture in front of a giant Mickey Jack-o-Lantern on Main Street U.S.A. in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, Sep 7, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Guardians of the Galaxy on the first day of the Halloween season at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, Sep 7, 2018. Every evening during the Halloween season the ride changes from Mission Breakout! to Monsters After Dark. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Evan Louie poses with a car in a Halloween ‘car-stume’ at Cars Land at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, Sep 7, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Spooky cones sit in front of the Cozy Cone Motel at Cars Land during the first day of the Halloween season at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, Sep 7, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Visitors pack Main Street U.S.A. during the first day of the Halloween season at Disneyland on Main Street U.S.A. in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, Sep 7, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Visitors pack Main Street U.S.A. during the first day of the Halloween season at Disneyland on Main Street U.S.A. in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, Sep 7, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Visitors to Disneyland take pictures in front of a giant Mickey Jack-o-Lantern on Main Street U.S.A. in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, Sep 7, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Halloween decorations on Main Street U.S.A. during the first day of the Halloween season at Disneyland on Main Street U.S.A. in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, Sep 7, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Minnie Mouse greets visitors on Main Street U.S.A. during the first day of the Halloween season at Disneyland on Main Street U.S.A. in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, Sep 7, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Halloween balloons during the first day of the Halloween season at Disneyland on Main Street U.S.A. in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, Sep 7, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Dia de los Muertos decorations next to Rancho del Zcalo Restaurante in Frontierland at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, Sep 7, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Dia de los Muertos decorations next to Rancho del Zcalo Restaurante in Frontierland at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, Sep 7, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Disney Junior Star Vampirina waves to visitors on the first day of the Halloween season at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, Sep 7, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Visitors walk through Guardians of the Galaxy on the first day of the Halloween season at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, Sep 7, 2018. Every evening during the Halloween season the ride changes from Mission Breakout! to Monsters After Dark. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Purple lights fill Buena Vista Street on the first day of the Halloween season at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, Sep 7, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Cars Land is decked out for the Halloween season at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, Sep 7, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A Dia de los Muertos-inspired car at Ramone’s House of Body Art in Cars Land at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, Sep 7, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Disneyland has been decorated for more than a decade, but this is only the second year that the resort folks have gone to the expense of also Halloweening its sister park, Disney California Adventure. And it’s not a cheap or easy process. The company works for months to get the latest décor, specialty foods and merchandise ready to roll out.

Here are some things you might want to know:

Both parks:

1. The Halloween decorations went up Friday, Sept. 7 and will remain through Wednesday, Oct. 31, so head over during those periods to get a look. Note that the Haunted Mansion décor will stay in place until January.

2. The holiday decorations are best after dusk because many are based on lighting and other spooky effects. Twilight currently hits around 8 p.m., while the days will get shorter, meaning it will be dusk around 7 p.m. by Oct. 31.

3. In the wake of the success of the hit 2017 movie, “Coco,” Disney will again decorate to celebrate Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, the Latin American holiday that commemorates the return of the spirits of loved ones to earth for one day each year. Since those days are typically celebrated between Oct. 31-Nov. 2, depending on location, those decorations will stay up until Nov. 4. Look for ofrendas — or altars — in Zocalo Park at Disneyland’s Frontierland and at the “Plaza de la Familia” set up at Paradise Gardens in DCA.

In Disneyland:

4. Disneyland will close early for the special ticketed “Mickey’s Halloween Party” event on various dates between Sept. 19 and Oct. 31, either at 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. depending on the day. If you want to visit the parks then, buy a parkhopper ticket that allows you to visit both parks, then you can go over to Disney California Adventure after Disneyland closes. Otherwise, pick a day that the party’s not o.

5. The obvious photo stop is in front of the giant colorful Mickey Mouse jack-o’-lantern as you enter the park. If you’re streaming into the park with a zillion other people, ask yourself whether it’s better to come back and get a photo here later, when you don’t have to wait in line.

6. The iconic symbol of Disneyland’s Halloween is the Haunted Mansion, which is shut down annually to be turned into the Haunted Mansion Holiday, based on Tim Burton’s “Nightmare Before Christmas” movie. If you’ve never seen the movie, renting it before you go will add to your enjoyment. This attraction will be the same indoors day and night, so you needn’t wait until after dark to enjoy it. Get a Fastpass!

7. The other major dressed-up attraction is Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy in Tomorrowland, where the sound track and visuals have been spookified to make this ride even more scary than it was before. You’ll need a Fastpass to avoid waiting until you’re a ghost yourself.

8. Note that the special nighttime Disneyland “Mickey’s Halloween Party” that requires an extra ticket sells out every year, so, if you want to go, look to see if any days are still available. If you’re coming to Disney and buying a day pass specifically to view the Halloween decorations, a party ticket would be a good way to go, because it enables you to visit both parks starting three hours before the time that the party begins, and then of course stay afterward to enjoy the party while everyone else is kicked out and sent home. The party itself, however, is only within the Disneyland park. Prices range from $115 to $130 depending on date.

In Disney California Adventure

9. The chairman of the scared at Disney California Adventure is the creepy Oogie Boogie, who was the villain in “The Nightmare before Christmas.” He greets guests overhead as they walk into the park and sets off clouds of bats around Buena Vista Street.

10. There’s something new this year at the Headless Horseman statue in Disney California Adventure — the obvious first photo stop for visitors. Take a look at the cool new touches.

11. Every night during the Halloween season, Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: BREAKOUT! closes for an hour and turns into Guardians of the Galaxy — Monsters After Dark. Special music and lighting effects make this fun, including a punk rock song called “Monsters After Dark” that was written specially for the ride by Tyler Bates, composer for the film series. The ride shuts down daily at 4 p.m. for the changeover, then reopens at 5 p.m. so make sure to get Fastpasses for after 5 p.m.

12. In Cars Land, the town of Radiator Springs is turned into “Radiator Screams” with a pumpkin patch, ghostly overlays and more. The town’s residents will be dressed up in “Haul-o-ween” costumes. Look for costumes on the cars. Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree turns into Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree, and Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters becomes Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween.

13. If you’ve got a Disney Junior TV fan in your family, check out the “Vee” character from “Vampirina” who will be doing meet-and-greets at Disney California Adventure and also appear during the specially ticketed Halloween party at Disneyland.

14. Get yourself some holiday booze at the Hollywood Lounge, including Elysian the Great Pumpkin Imperial Ale and the Supernatural Spirit cocktail of cotton candy lemonade with vodka.

15. In addition to the rides and decorations, there are dozens of special foods for sale that will only be available during Halloween, such as pumpkin spice churros with cream cheese frosting, Cruella de Vil brownies, Anti-vampire pizzas and many more.

Marla Jo Fisher was a workaholic hard news reporter before she adopted two children from foster care at age 46, picked up a scruffy dog along the way and somehow managed to keep them all alive, at least so far. She now writes the Frumpy Middle-Age Mom humor column that appears in the Orange County Register weekly. Due to her status as the cheapest person alive, she also writes about deals and bargains for the Register, including her Cheapo Travel column which also runs in newspapers around the country. When she's not having a nervous breakdown, she's usually traveling somewhere cheaply and writing about it.